Razor-sharp Blades cut down table-topping Clarets in style

A hefty Jack Robinson (29) challenge on Manuel Benson (25) overshadowed the opening stages of this top-of-the-table clash, but after the Sheffield United defender escaped any form of punishment, football again proved it works in mysterious ways.

Benson recycled a Burnley corner and as he stepped inside to unleash an effort, none other than Robinson diverted his strike past Wes Foderingham (31) in the Blades goal.

Sheffield United find themselves in the upper echelons of the table for a reason though, and they hit back shortly before the half-hour mark when Oli McBurnie’s (26) knock-down was flicked home by Iliman Ndiaye (22).

Footballing karma wasn’t yet over for Robinson though, who had his pocket picked by Benson moments before the break and the Belgian strode forward to fire the Clarets into a HT lead.

Burnley’s advantage lasted just minutes into the second half though, as Sheffield United flew out the traps and equalised through McBurnie, who headed home Anel Ahmedhodžić’s (23) cushioned header.

From then on, it was relative one-way traffic, as the Clarets’ goal came under siege for a prolonged period of the half.

Sheffield United long throws and crosses were raining in on the Burnley box, one of which proved fruitful as Robinson had his say on proceedings, bundling the ball over the line from yet another hopeful Blades ball.

Ahmedhodžić finished the game off 20 minutes from time, from you guessed it, another corner, as he latched upon a loose ball to fire home Sheffield United’s fourth of the afternoon.

The visitors had crumbled at this point, like nothing seen all season and when McBurnie fired home a fifth of the afternoon, it was at risk of becoming embarrassing.

Fortunately for Burnley, the scoring finished at five, and they must now re-group ahead of next weekend’s East Lancashire Derby.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Oli McBurnie (Sheffield United)